So, I am piecing this all together and I started thinking about the pros and cons of gears vs supercharging. Car is mostly for street fun and maybe some parking lot autocross stuff. Still, I am interested in hearing thoughts for all uses, and just the differences between the two, pros and cons of each. Here is what (I think) I know. 2SS M6.Gears: Cheaper (by far), gets to power (higher RPMS) faster vs stock, declines in MPG, requires no mods to the motor, will drop top end speed. Could probably skip 1st gear for "normal" daily driving.Supercharger: more expensive, should not affect MPG (except if your foot is in it more often) requires a tune, requires motor mods , torque increase across most of the RPM range, risk (low if done right) with stock bottom end.So am I missing anything major? Anyone do one and then the other? Curious to hear what others experiences are with either one or both of these mods – especially if done one at a time

MPG and top end speed loss with rear end gears are not as pronounced in modern six-speed cars as they were in 3 and 4 speed cars back in the day. Depending on the ratio and how you use your car, something like a 1-3 MPG loss is pretty typical. We have actually had a few customers report an increase in fuel economy but they only used their cars for in-town weekend cruising.

I had 4.10's for a while ... Totally changed the attitude of the car, for not a whole lot of money .. I added a supercharger and the gears had to go because they didn't play nice .. Dropped down to 3.76's. supercharger made the car FAST where gears made it QUICKER. I know that sounds weird buts that's the best way to explain it.

Comparing the two is like comparing cherries and pumpkins. If you want a great seat of the pants mod for relatively cheap, the gears are the way to go. If you're looking for brute force and have the cash, go with the blower. Also, you will probably wish you hadn't put gears in it if you decide on a blower later on.

Comparing the two is like comparing cherries and pumpkins. If you want a great seat of the pants mod for relatively cheap, the gears are the way to go. If you're looking for brute force and have the cash, go with the blower. Also, you will probably wish you hadn't put gears in it if you decide on a blower later on.

I was thinking more about the traction being even worse with the blower and gears together. Mine factory drive train has managed to survive with 650 to the wheels, but I haven't bolted up a set of DR's and went to the strip...... Yet.

thanks for the input thus far. Yeah, blower and gears is not the plan. I planned on doing the FI. However, the fuel up here in AK is crap (90 octane) so I'll likely need meth (and I know nothing about that setup at all). When I started adding up the costs of the two there ends up being a significant difference. Then at the same time I am thinking the improvements (sprint speed, torque) might be fairly close as far as "seat of the pants" feeling goes(?). Decisions, decisions.... keep the thoughts and input coming. Always nice to hear from people who have travelled the road already.

I was thinking more about the traction being even worse with the blower and gears together. Mine factory drive train has managed to survive with 650 to the wheels, but I haven't bolted up a set of DR's and went to the strip...... Yet.

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Hooked em and shredded them. 3d gear power shift. Had to listen to my tuner "I told you this was going to happen". "I told you we should of switched ". Aftermarket gears don't hold up well under that much torque and it really wasn't a surprise at all, more like wishful thinking. Ended up going bulletproof .... DSS

Running GM 3.91's from lashways' diff swap program and love them! Completely changed the car! For $900ish it was a great mod. Still want to go FI though.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kmcd

You mean all those decades I drove a car without an onboard computer, I was cheating death?

There are only two options in life. Fight or flight. Most people run. Almost all people run. But not us. The difference between us and everyone else is that we run towards the gunfire. And that makes all the difference.

I can afford FI, the question is do I want too? It'll surely exceed $10K or more (I'll need meth and I can't do the job, so labor too!). That's a lotta cash for a car on the road 4-5 months a year.

I may still stick to my original plan to go with FI. I'm just entertaining the idea of gears. Seems I could get almost as much "fun" from them at a lot lower cost. Though the idea of hearing boost kick in would be super cool! Then again I could buy an entirely different toy, or other large ticket item with the $8K or so I'd save if I did gears instead. Plus I'd still have some neck snapping fun.

Decisions, decisions .... Well for this year I am sticking with the suspension mods. Planning ahead for next year!

For gears vs FI - is there a particular place one shines over the other? Like off the line, or jumping on it at a roll? I've had gears and I know the power is up rolling at higher RPMS for any given moment but I have not had the experience of FI.

A supercharger like a whipple will do more than gears can do at any of those things. No meth needed. I am at near 600 rwhp Plus it is a easy install.

I agree with this. A PD supercharger like the Whipple, TVS 2300 and Lyshom are going to give you way more kick in the pants off idle torque than gears ever could. The price wont be 10K either. More like 8K installed even with upgraded ZL1 pump, ADM FPCM, upgraded injectors and custom tuning. Of course like someone else said its not really compairable. The SC cost is around 8K and the gears are around 1,400. One actually makes the car faster while the other mostly just makes it feel faster.

I agree with this. A PD supercharger like the Whipple, TVS 2300 and Lyshom are going to give you way more kick in the pants off idle torque than gears ever could. The price wont be 10K either. More like 8K installed even with upgraded ZL1 pump, ADM FPCM, upgraded injectors and custom tuning. Of course like someone else said its not really compairable. The SC cost is around 8K and the gears are around 1,400. One actually makes the car faster while the other mostly just makes it feel faster.

That there sums it up nicely. It's gonna be a money decision. Gears don't add hp and torque, they just make the car feel faster.. Supercharger adds 100 plus hp and torque, actually making your car faster. Adding a supercharger can put some stress on other parts of your car , clutch and axles. Enjoy. Both are fine choices.

I was thinking more about the traction being even worse with the blower and gears together. Mine factory drive train has managed to survive with 650 to the wheels, but I haven't bolted up a set of DR's and went to the strip...... Yet.

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More unskilled driver break drivetrain parts on the burnout than the launch. You gotta know when to pull your foot off the gas pedal...just before the burnout heated tires hook - THAT'S when you break driveline parts.

I've scattered many an axle and 12 bolt rear, then I went 9" Ford with a nodular center, braced housing, and good 31 spline axles. That was on a car with 14X32 slicks.

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Bring back Sunoco 260 to the local station. Some folks STILL drive L-88s and need the good gas.

Hooked em and shredded them. 3d gear power shift. Had to listen to my tuner "I told you this was going to happen". "I told you we should of switched ". Aftermarket gears don't hold up well under that much torque and it really wasn't a surprise at all, more like wishful thinking. Ended up going bulletproof .... DSS

Drag race gears are actually a soft metal compared to hardened street gears. An 800 HP car with 14" slicks will shatter hardened stock gears. Drag gears 'flex" due to being a softer metal and therefore, do not shatter. The downside is drag gears will need to be replaced often. It's the price you pay for power and traction at the drags.

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Bring back Sunoco 260 to the local station. Some folks STILL drive L-88s and need the good gas.